DOR/MSCPA
Small Business
Roundtables:
The Department of Revenue (DOR)
and the MSCPA teamed up to host a
series of roundtable discussions
across the state during May and June
as part of the Department’s DOR 360
initiative. The series focused on how
the DOR can improve its customer
service for practitioners and their
small business clients. At each
location, a group of our members
provided practical and constructive
input to the DOR Commissioner or
her senior staff on ways the DOR can
improve six key areas: customer
service, audits, collections, dispute
resolution, notices and
forms/guidance.
This process will culminate in a report
identifying issues raised and an
action plan for moving forward. The
MSCPA will work with the DOR to
ensure successful implementation of
its improvement initiative. Where
necessary, the MSCPA will file bills to
make sure our members’ ideas are
carried to fruition.
More Info
Beacon Hill Beat
State Legislative Update
Just after 1:00 a.m. on August 1, the 2013-2014 session adjourned. This two-year
session was nothing short of eventful. It spanned tragedy at the Boston Marathon, a
tornado in Revere and the departure of an unprecedented number of legislators from
Beacon Hill. We watched the U.S. Congress hit its lowest public approval rating in
history; three staffers from the Probation Department face trial and conviction for
devising an unlawful hiring scheme; the first female Senate President prepare to pass
the gavel; and our state’s first African American Governor enter his final year in office.
In 2015, we will see a new Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General,
Treasurer and Senate President. The Speaker will enter his final term as leader of the
House, and both branches will appoint new Committee chairs. With the changing
dynamics, the MSCPA will be busier than ever educating lawmakers on the importance of the accounting profession to the health of our economy, and the vital advisory
role we can play on legislation affecting the business community.
To be successful, we will be calling on you to contribute to the PAC and participate in
our Key Person Program. We will save those details for a later edition. In the
meantime, here are some highlights from this two-year session:
Thank
You
Mandatory Auditor Rotation: Due largely to the MSCPA’s
grassroots effort, language to implement mandatory auditor rotation
for local housing authorities was favorably amended. The new
language narrows the scope to apply only to external auditors who
conduct compliance audits for housing authorities, and allows
auditors to conduct five consecutive audits, rather than three, before
the mandatory auditor rotation applies. Thank you to all who took
part in this important initiative!
Special thanks to Auditor Suzanne Bump; Senate President Therese Murray; Senators
Stephen Brewer, James Timilty and Michael Rodriques; Representatives Kevin Honan
and Brian Dempsey; and Undersecretary for Housing and Community Development
Aaron Gornstein and their staffs for their support!
Economic Development and Job Growth Top State’s Concerns: Lawmakers crafted
several versions of an economic development and job creation bill. The final bill
focused largely on workforce training programs and gateway cities initiatives; however,
it did (or did not, in some cases) include several provisions of interest to the Society:
• Expansion of the R&D Credit: Lawmakers approved an expansion of the research
and development (R&D) tax credit to allow taxpayers to choose the alternative
simplified credit (ASC) rather than the more traditional R&D credit. The ASC will
gradually increase to 10% of the taxpayer’s research expenses that exceed 50% of
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their expenses over a period of three years.
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*MSCPA advocacy success